Category: black metal

Singularity- Place Of Chains – 10/10 \m/

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Singularity

Place Of Chains

058172

Out 10/11/2019

Line up

Jack Fliegler – Vocals

Adam King Bass, Vocals

Nick Pompliano- Keyboards

Nathan Bigelow – Drums

 

 

Tempe, Arizona based misfits Singularity is back with a new album dropping very shortly, and I have to tell you people. It is awesome, I mean better than some of the stuff I have been hearing for the past ten months. There were not many albums that came out this year that impressed me thoroughly.  There were some I was excited about, and were exactly what I expected from them. Place Of Chains is on another level, its album of the year material in my book. I’m not going to waste any time hyping this one up.  I would only be talking about the first 5 tracks, however the first track is an introductory, and without lyrical content. I am also going to cover track #6 Desmoterion since that would make five songs with lyrical content, and also longer than 3 minutes in length.

 

 

#1) Bellum -The intro, what a nice lead up into the next track. I love when a band has a solid introductory track. While it may seem like a simple thing, some bands blow it in my opinion. This is how to lead in right. The first minute and a half has no drums. Then boom 1:40 things kick it up a level. The buildup is spectacular. A nice solo to finish things off and moving right in to the next track. More than just a mere introductory track. They pack a combo of killer instrumental work right before fading into Victory or Death.

 

#2 Victory Or Death- Hot damn this one is right out of the gate with rapid-fire blast beats, and menacing guitars. I need to give praise to these guys for beginning with “LET THE GAMES BEGIN” how can you begin an album with a more badass line than that. Jack just got everyone’s attention with that brilliant line.  I feel like I do not even need to listen to the rest of this song to make my mind at how awesome it is. They give you hell for a solid minute and then ease up on the listener. I am sitting in awe listening to Nathans drums. Dude this guy is nuts. I mean the guy was touring with Alterbeast and filling in on drums for others at the same time. He can definitely hold his own that is made clear right now. Man the guitars just lure the listener right in. Whoo, that is a Ric Flair-esqe guitar solo towards the end of the song there.  To be honest, this is my first chance listening to Singularity. I knew they were coming out with something so I held off listening to stuff from their first album until this album graced my hard drive.

 

#3) Sisyphean Cycle – Sisyphean cycle- grim intro with the vocals, a much slower start to a track than the last one. I get a bit more of a black metal vibe on this track. I’m not a big black metal fan, but, around 1:20, they eloquently begin to melt faces with that frenzy of blasts and guitar riffage. I must admit my interest was piqued with Blackened technical death metal but damn I like what I am hearing.  I am really digging the technical death metal bands that have the black metal style weaved throughout in subtle form. These guys blend so well. I believe this is one of the singles they released and for good reason. It really highlights their ability to go the distance with so much spice added to the song structure. That last solo starting at the 4:58 mark is spectacular. I love the orchestration behind that guitar solo.  I mean this is what I am talking about, absolutely brilliant sounding. The last minute and a half are killer. Goddamn these guys are on fire.

 

#4) Ritual of Regret – Nathan makes quick time getting this song set up and on target. It has a nice pace to it, and I am really digging the change of pace when the vocals come in. not a ton slower by any means, they still maintain a good pace. It was a damn good track to do some yard work too. Anything that requires your amped up energy levels, this is a good track.  I would say for any people who listen to metal and get motivated. This album will help you rip the shit out of whatever you are doing  Just a full disclosure, if there was one and only one song that I feel as though it is a little more 2 dimensional, or is a little leaner than the rest. It is the shortest track on the album not including the first introductory track.  Nevertheless, it does not lack in quality, let me be clear. The meat to this song is impeccable. I guess the only thing I can notice is less solo work, less Nathan Bigelow drum brilliance.

#5)-Consume and Assume – This is a solid example of Nathans kick ass drumming skills. Just listen to that beginning. The dude is just straight crushing it with something that is jazzy, technical and then flips his blast beat mode switch and completely decimates any room for a spare note.  Looking for a guitars solo that will make you want more, it happens right at the 1:43, mmmm listen to that solo. It feels like it had a double serving of soul in it. This is a fun track to listen to; the melody in the back is superb. They have constructed a sound so beautiful and yet damn they have such a razor sharp technical blackened death sound it is ridiculous. I genuinely am excited for anyone who is looking for something new, or have never heard singularity before, because this is going to be a fan favorite album. I am so impressed by this album thus far, it’s truly top tier metal.

 

#6 Desmoterion- Holy shit, this is absolute hellfire, mixed with legitimately everything you could possibly want in a track. This song clocks in around 7 minutes long, but have no fear you will feel like the song packs in a full 10. There is so much meat to this tune it is not even funny. In terms of how you will feel after listening to it. Well let us be honest with each other. You’re going to feel like there was life before Singularity- Desmoterion, and then life after this track. People are going to remember where they were when they heard it type of shit. Yeah, if they don’t release this as a single, it’s because they do not want to melt everyone before hearing the album in its entirety.  If you have managed to hold your shit together through the first half then just get a load of the moment 3:55 hits, because this sets up such a magical acoustic melody with the guitars. Drums come in with just the right zest and they work that, building up 5:10 when the vocals come in “Release me…..” and then one of the sickest solos one has offered up this year. This track is a pure display of superior musical power. God damn now that is a chart-topping track. This song alone sells the album for me, I do not even need to listen to the rest to know I am buying it, but since I’m writing a review, I have listened to more.

 

This album is going to be one of my top albums of 2019. I have not been a fan of any black metal or blackened anything that has come to me in months. However, damn, this is different. Starting out the album with the first words you hear for lyrical content is LET THE GAMES BEGIN. That right there is to me a small meticulous detail but the fact of the matter is that this album absolutely crushes because of all the little details. The pianos, the melody, the solos, how they blended black metal and technical death metal without any fluff. They do not need to trim the fat; they are a lean smooth running machine of some of the sickest metal I have heard in a while. The amount of “Technical black, blackened death” etc. I have gotten, and how many I have even considered writing about is two very different numbers. This album can and will stand the test of time. This album, this band has blown me away. There are some heavy hitters on the guest list too. Malcolm Pugh on every track for the additional orchestrations. Nick Padovani for co composition and guitar solo, Jared Christianson doing some guest vocals on Victory or Death. This album is packed to the brim with talent.  This entire album, from start to finish keeps the listener engaged. Every second of every song is musical platinum.  I cannot find a single thing I dislike about this album, I just cannot, and there is nothing that could be changed to better this album.

10/10 go out and buy this ASAP your ears will thank you

Go on and get ordering before this drops on Friday

 

Social Media Links
http://www.facebook.com/singularityaz
https://singularityaz.bandcamp.com/
https://www.youtube.com/singularitymetal
https://twitter.com/SingularityAZ
https://www.instagram.com/singularity_az/
https://www.facebook.com/TheArtisanEra/ 
The Artisan Era YouTube Channel
http://www.theartisanera.com/

-Badger \m/

Visit our FACEBOOK page \m/_(><)_\m/
http://www.badgersmetalbreakdown.com

 

Stortregn – Emptiness Fills The Void – Album Review 7.5/10 \m/

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Stortregn

Emptiness Fills the Void

Released May 25, 2018

Romain – Guitars, vocals

Johan – Guitars (lead and acoustic)

Duran – Bass, Guitars

Manuel – Bass

Samuel – Drums

The Background:  Stortregn, hailing from Geneva, Switzerland, have been kicking around in the underground for just over a decade, and Emptiness Fills the Void is their fourth full-length.  Previous outings failed to make a strong impression on me, as their brand of Dissection-influenced black/death metal has been done to death, and no pretender has ever topped the original.  Perhaps conceding this point, Stortregn have emerged from the shadow of their primary musical influence with a massive dose of fretboard fireworks and blistering drumming.  They may have been black metal once, but they’re tech death now, and proud of it.  Luckily, all that prior songwriting experience was not left behind, which brings us to this album’s main draw: while this sort of flashy, tremolo-obsessed tech death has become considerably more common of late, this band is one of the few in the field with the wherewithal to write good songs.

 

The Pros:  There’s a focus on melody here that can be hard to find in extreme metal, and the band has the important ability to recognize when their own riffs are good; one thing I noticed consistently throughout the record is the re-emergence of only the choicest melodies, often backed with catchy vocal patterns.  This trick is immediately apparent from opener “Through the Dark Gates”, which hammers its primary riff with such dedication that it runs through my head for hours after listening.  Every track on this album has a selection of such moments, which is what brings me back to them repeatedly.  With a roster that boasts a dizzying and somewhat confusing abundance of guitarists and bassists, the subtlety of the two- and three-guitar harmonies and the agile, confidently melodic bass work take center stage.  The guitar solos and leads are suitably face-melting, and there’s finger-shattering riffs here (“Nonexistence”) that lesser bands could never keep up with.  An even-handed, if treble-y, mix helps to ensure that no band member is completely buried, though the guitars are clearly the emphasis.

 

The Cons:  It’s hard to take much away from this album if you’re a fan of this particular style.  They do rely far too heavily on spoken-word passages.  This tends to detract from the music and is also a distraction that tends to crop up during the album’s brief quiet patches, making them less enjoyable.  An additional issue is that the proceedings are relentlessly one-note.  Tempos are almost universally very fast, and “slow” for this band is still a pretty brisk mid-tempo.  Though the riffing is pleasantly unrestrained, the bulk of the album is absolutely overflowing with tremolo picking, and even the more death metal-inflected riffs usually have an undercurrent of swarming notes.  This sort of constant activity will be a turnoff to some.  With the exception of well-placed instrumental interlude “The Chasm of Eternity”, which eases the pedal off the metal to provide a needed breather, the album just does not let up one bit.  And at a beefy 51 minutes, there’s not a lot of replay-ability.  You’re spent after one trip through these dark gates.

 

The Verdict:  Sure, it’s like an oncoming train gleefully tossing aside the brake lever and shoving the throttle all the way to the wall.  But isn’t that half the reason we turn to extreme metal?  Bands like this exist for the simple pleasure of spinning our heads around and knocking us flat on our asses, and we’re all fans because we keep coming back for more.  Don’t miss this one if you’re into blackened tech death.  It’s not re-inventing any wheels, but it is spinning them pretty damn fast.  7.5/10 \m/

 

Bandcamp: https://non-serviam-records.bandcamp.com/album/emptiness-fills-the-void

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Stortregn/

Non Serviam Records Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nonserviamrecords/

 

 

-MindRiven \m/

Voidthrone Spiritual War Tactics- Review 7.5/10 \m/

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Voidthrone

Spiritual War Tactics

Released October 31, 2016

Ronald Foodsack-Guitars
Dan Morris-Vocals
Austin Schmalz-Bass
Josh Keifer-Drums

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Today we take Spiritual War Tactics for a spin.  Dark and gritty this is Seattle experimental/ dissonant black metal with Deathspell Omega, and Gorguts influences blended to create this interesting release. Now by standards an E.P. is 25 minutes or less, or 4 songs, however this is four songs and almost 35 minutes in length.  Let’s call it a mini album since it’s longer than the typical E.P. It was released a few months back in the fall but it comes with a Name Your Price option and when we got to listening to it.  It is really worth the listen, Mortification of My Legacy had hooked right in several times in the nine minute long period of some hauntingly appealing metal. But the last two minutes of the song really get you.  To be specific right around the 7:37 mark they have this really catchy riff.  I was really surprised by this first track, but I am glad that they chose that to be the first song on the album. They follow that up with Nullum Emperium which is just a few seconds longer in overall length of time.  And holy shit that song has two and a half minutes of solid buildup, they are not your average sounding band by any means. Sure they have the typical elements in their sound but the song writing, the song structure, the riffs and how catchy it is.  I don’t find myself to be a big fan of black metal. I will always listen to new stuff (or new to me) because just like every genre, there is good music and music that is slightly less appealing to my ears. So far I have really enjoyed this album and I was curious to see if they continued to impress.  So it was no surprise that Spiritual War Tactics followed the same pattern as the previous two tracks.  I will be honest, with this album, I really wasn’t even sure I was going to like it, by reading the description, and the tags on their BANDCAMP page.  But I am glad I did, Spiritual War Tactics was not at all what I had expected, I really dig this one. And for a NYP option picking up a digital copy is next to nothing in cost.  I liked this one, it was dark, but it didn’t lose me, it caught me pretty early on with some catchy riffage and for that, it kept my interest going.  I am thoroughly satisfied with this E.P. only I find myself wanting more.  The whole four songs is a bit deceiving, because while it’s a good half hour of music, it almost doesn’t feel like it’s even that much.  It’s a gem with that NYP option on Bandcamp and part of what made this something we had to review. 7.5/10 \m/

 

 

Check them out on FACEBOOK and give them a like.

Head on over to their BANDCAMP page to get your digital copy

 

-Badger \m/

Visit our FACEBOOK page \m/_(><)_\m/
http://www.badgersmetalbreakdown.com

 

 

The Devil’s Due- December 17th- Ctulu- “Ctulu”- Review 7/10 \m/

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Ctulu

“Ctulu”

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Released November 18th, 2016

M- Guitar, Vocals

A-Guitar, Bass, Vocals

I.D.- Drums

 

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Today the Devil has brought us a a dark and primitive extreme  black metal self titled album by the German metal trio Ctulu. This album is filled to the brim with catchy riffs, drivng rhtyms, dark lyrics, and blistering blast beats. some fucking killer blackened metal! This album surprised the shit out of me. I really dig the album art too, its dark and cult like. its like a page from some H.P. Lovecraft tale.  Track after track they really impressed me, the first song was a bit on the slower and darker paced side of things. But it sets up a lot of imagery within the music. I mean the more I listen to it, the more I wonder why I haven’t heard this group before.  However the second track follows up with faster pace and and fucking bad ass beginning. The guitars and drums really set up this song and it’s a fucking catchy track right from when the vocals begin. The third track begins to compete with the previous track in speed and contagious choruses and vocals in general. The guitars are a a driving force, even with how straightforward the riffs may be. This level of blackened hasn’t been on my radar for a while.  The album has only two dark and slow tracks and those being Serce krwawe and Rozgoryczona, rozczarowana, a gotowa na wszystko.  The rest are all a fast paced, with the guitar really grasping out you while the drums are so precise and blistering fast. This is what I love about finding a band I haven’t heard before. When it has a “WOW” factor and really impresses you. This gem came out just about a month ago and has been getting a lot of play these past few weeks. Our top played tracks are Totenhauswinde which means death house winds. And yea the song is about as badass as its name is. Von Mondeswächtern und Menschverächtern is also a killer track. This album is 100% worth being check out and luckily for you its on bandcamp so check it out below. For some really dark, and driving blackened extreme death metal that will certainly impress many of you. 7/10 \m/

 

 

 

If you like what you hear, you can pick this blackened German gem up over at Ctulu’s BANDCAMP page

Also show them some love on FACEBOOK by giving them the thumbs up so you can stay up to date on news.

You can find cool Ctulu merch and other MDD artists by clicking HERE \m/

click HERE to go to their website

 

 

-Badger \m/

Visit our FACEBOOK page \m/_(><)_\m/
http://www.badgersmetalbreakdown.com

The Devil’s Due- Dec 6th- Veilburner “The Obscene Rite” album review 8/10 \m/

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Today the devil hath brought us a dark, and brooding album to listen to titled “The Obscene Rite” the third release from Pennsylvania  experimental black/death metal band Veilburner.

 

 

Veilburner

The Obscene Rite

released September 30, 2016

vburn.jpg

Mephisto Deleterio – All musical compositions/performance, engineering/mixing, and backing vocals

Chrisom infernium – Main vocals, lyrics/themes, and album artwork

 

 

 

Now this is an album that came out back in September and while trying to review this album in my own regular format (track by track) due to the nature of the album.  This is not an album you can really breakdown the way I do on most reviews. But after giving this album many spins it was apparent that to get the true and full effect you actually need to listen to this album from start to finish without stopping or skipping.  To listen to each track and focus on one is taking away from the album as a whole. The songs blend right into each other and it really needs that continues play through to get the big picture.  This is the third release by these guys and holy hell is it dark and intriguing. The first track (Postmortem Excordium)  is the one that is going to set the pace of this album  because when listening to it you really get the full spectrum of what they are going to be hammering you with for 9 tracks.  The vocals are the closest thing to a pure evil entity summoning a dark and malevolent being. Yea it’d kind of like that, its dark and ghastly to listen to.  The lyrical content follows very dark and thought provoking theoretical situations about the human race and evolving past physical and mental limitations.  I mean lets just take a moment to understand their lyrics for a moment.  They are writing songs with lyrics that are based on humans evolving beyond our limitations, if that’s not enough to get you interested I don’t know what is. I mean any band could make lyric content about the typical themes, gore,  and the like. But Veilburner focus on a different (if not darker) point of view and the music relays that. Vaterchen is a great example of this, because the darker the content the music is going to reciprocate the feeling.  This is where they excel, really pulling out the big guns to make this some of the darkest music you have heard in a long time.  fans of Deathspell Omega, Akercocke, and I’d say Dodheimsgard will really appreciate this album.  If you like your metal dark, sinister, straight up mind bending evil sounding,  Veilburner have just what you need with their latest album. 8/10 \m/ But don’t take our word for it, have a listen for yourself by listening below.

 

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Bonus:  since the album really should be played start to finish, and their previous releases are just as compelling as this one and it is cool to listen to Noumenon, and then The Obscene Rite from start to finish and back to back. But I must warn you, it’s probably going to fuck with you on various levels so make sure you are in the right frame of mind before you do.  Other than that get ready to have your mind warped from the brilliant and  mysterious Veilburner. Also it is worth mentioning that when The Obscene rite came out they were unsigned. And shortly after the release they signed to Transcending Obscurity Records.

 

 

 

 

If you like what you hear then head on over to their BANDCAMP page and grab your copy of The Obscene Rite

 

Also if they offer up a sound you can really dig, then give them a like on FACEBOOK and stay current with Veilburner news.

 

 

-Badger \m/

 

Visit our FACEBOOK page \m/_(><)_\m/

http://www.badgersmetalbreakdown.com

 

 

 

The Devil’s Due- Dec 3rd- Minachrist- “In Absence” album review- 7/10\m/

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Minachrist

In Absence

released May 27, 2016

Connor McNamee- Lead/rhythm guitar, clean vocals, songwriting, lyrics
Nick Shaw (Black Crown Initiate) – Bass guitar, engineering
Jerry Martin (Alustrium) – Harsh vocals

 minachrist

Back in May, Minachrist dropped this album and it slipped right under so many radars, that we found it to be very justifiable in adding it to this months Devil’s due segment. Think of 12 days of Christmas, only its 31 days of metal you should be checking out.

Well if you are looking for some progressive blackened death metal that absolutely crushes.  I have always been a fan of blackened death when its done right. Well Minachrist have formulated a way to make the black and the death blend so well that when the progressive metal element is introduced as a listener you have embraced every note that has flowed out of your speakers.  Yea this album kicks a lot of ass, a whole lot. “Our Rose Garden” is one of our top played tracks, it is a downright killer track that has so many infectious elements that pull at you. With every change and transition you are wanting more. but then there are the softer tracks that are just as compelling as the fast and heavy bringing out that progressive feel.  They do rock clean vocals on this album, whether you like them or hate them. our opinion is that if you are going to do them, make sure they really fit the music. Well Minachrist walks that balanced delivery and you will be reminded of bands like Opeth that switch from really clean guitars and vocals to heavy as fuck guitars and vocals. The production of this album is on point and  after listening to this a good handful of times  its very deserving of the 7/10 \m/ rating we give it.  Have a listen for yourself and tell us what you think.

 

 

Also featuring:
Andy Thomas (Black Crown Initiate) – guest guitar solo on “Our Rose Garden”
Ethan McKenna- guest guitar solo on “The Ecstasy of Dreams”
Ceia Schweitzer- lyrics for “Our Rose Garden” inspired by poem of the same name

 

If you like what you heard then head on over to their BANDCAMP page by clicking Here

And dont forget to head on over to their FACEBOOK page and give them a like to get all the latest.

 

-Badger \m/

Visit our FACEBOOK page \m/_(><)_\m/
http://www.badgersmetalbreakdown.com

Metal News update _ Stormtide, Dorre, Anacryptic and more

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Anacryptic release video for Tedious Falsehood from their latest E.P. titled The Futility of Decency released August 12th, 2016

This fall Melbourne’s symphonic folk metal warriors STORMTIDE will hit the road across Australia in support of their epic debut album “Wrath of an Empire” released on Metal Hell Records Aug. 1st, 2016. The first dates are announced:

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27th Aug – Melbourne, W/ Anna Murphy, Evelyn Hotel

2nd Sep – Geelong, The Barwon Club

10th Sep – Sydney, The Valve Bar

17th Sep – Canberra, The Basement W/ Lagerstein

22nd Oct – Melbourne, Headlining Metal To my ears, The Bendigo

26th Nov – Brisbane, TBA

 

 

What reviewers are saying about STORMTIDE Wrath of an Empire:

9/10 FolkMetal.nl

8.5/10 MetalObserver.com

9/10 WeLoveMetal.com

Mist Of Misery set to release Absence on August 31st 2016

treesaz.jpg

Their new album is a huge step forward in terms of production, song writing, lyrical depth and overall atmosphere. Mist of Misery has entered a new phase, one that aims to evoke depressive, melancholic and ambient atmospheres in the minds of listeners at a whole new level. On this album, it was done mainly through the introduction to even more melodic and symphonic influences. The music is intended to set the listener in a different and almost meditative state of mind in order to absorb its true depth. The sophomore album which is a unique amalgamation of two different kind sub-genres, delivers nothing but Nine tracks of Cold, Obscure and Depressive form of Arts. A musical adventure that will eventually bless the listener with a melancholic, yet beautiful experience.

Artwork – Alex Tartsus (Russia)

The artwork was drawn by the exceptionally talented Russian artist Alex Tartsus.

Track – List:

1. MelancholicThoughts
2. Euthanasia
3. Absence
4. Final Departure
5. EpitaphofPenitence
6. WistfulTwilight
7. Paragon of Perdition
8. Mist ofMisery
9. Serenity in Nothingness

Members:

MortuzDenatus – Vocals, Drums, Programming, Mixing and Mastering

Phlegathon – Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Bass Guitar

Simon Hägglund – Live Drums

 

Order the Album:

https://mistofmiseryblacklion.bandcamp.com/album/absence

Black Metal Brother Duo HELLEBORUS Announce ‘The Carnal Sabbath Tour’ Presented by PureGrainAudio.com

Out Now! Debut Album ‘The Carnal Sabbath’ (Satanath/ Black Plague)



Colorado Springs, CO black metal blood brother duo Jerred & Wyatt Houseman’s HELLEBORUS will be hitting the road with the band’s live line up for dates across the US and Canada for their first North American tour presented by PureGrainAudio.com. Joining them on the tour for select dates, will be Destroyer of Light and UADA (details listed below). The tour is in support of their debut album ‘The Carnal Sabbath’ released this past June via Satanath Records (Russia) and Black Plague Records (USA). A full stream of the album can be heard at the following link http://helleborusblack.bandcamp.com/album/the-carnal-sabbath.

Carnalsabbath1.jpg Sept 4 – Colorado Springs, CO – The Black Sheep – info
Sept 7 – Haittesburg, MS – The Tavern * – info
Sept 8 – Jackson, MS – Big Sleepys * – info
Sept 9 – Birmingham, AL – The Nick *
Sept 10 – Macon, GA – Back Porch Lounge *
Sept 12 – Raleigh, NC – Slims Downtown Distillery *
Sept 16 – White Hall, MD – Shadow Woods Metal Fest – info (Hall Stage – Set Time 11:10pm)
Sept 19 – Cincinnati, OH – Funkers
* = dates with Destroyer of Light
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Oct 15 – Colorado Springs, CO – The Flux Capacitor
Oct 19 – Billings, MT – The Railyard
Oct 20 – Kalispell, MT – Order of The Eagles #
Oct 21 – Calgary, AB – Distortion #
Oct 22 – Edmonton, AB – Rendez Vous (Black Mourning Light Metal Fest) #
Oct 24 – Vancouver, BC – Red Room # w/Erimha, Panzerfaust, Idolatry
Oct 26 – Seattle, WA – The Highline #
Oct 27 – Portland, OR – Ash Street Saloon #
Oct 29 – Sacramento, CA – Starlite Lounge ^
Oct 30 – Oakland, CA – The Golden Bull ^
Oct 31 – Long Beach, CA – Blacklight District Lounge ^
Nov 1 – Phoenix, AZ – Yucca Tap Room
Nov 2 – Santa Fe, NM – The Skylight
# = dates with UADA
^ = dates with Lotus Thief

Album Band Line Up features: Wyatt (vocals, lyrics) & Jerred Houseman (producer, all instruments)

Live Band Line Up features: Brent Boutte’ – Drums, Jerred Houseman – Guitar & leads, Wyatt Houseman – Voice, Ian Horenman – guitar & rhythms, Michael Hylands – Bass

For more info, please visit the following links:

https://www.facebook.com/HelleborusBlack

https://twitter.com/helleborusblack

Dorre are playing Desertfest October 14-16th 2016

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 The Athens, Georgia-based melodic metal band THEOCRACY will release their new album “Ghost Ship” on October 28th in Europe and North America through Ulterium Records.

 theocracy

With Ghost Ship, Theocracy perfects the lively and fully-realized sound of As the World Bleeds, delivering 10 muscular and streamlined tracks that never lose focus and combine for one memorable journey. You like midtempo singalong anthems? Try the “Ghost Ship” title track. Thrashy rhythms and intensity?  “The Wonder of It All” should be to your liking. Emotional ballads with huge melodic hooks? Go “Around the World and Back.”  Or if you prefer epic, progressive tracks that do all these things and more, 10-minute album closer “Easter” is sure to be a favorite. Each song on Ghost Ship stands alone and has a unique signature, but every moment sounds unmistakably like Theocracy.

“So many kids were coming up to us after shows and telling us their stories,” says Theocracy vocalist Matt Smith. “A lot of them were searching for purpose and a place to fit in, and having grown up as an awkward and unpopular kid myself, their words really stuck with me. I started thinking about what a band of misfits Jesus’ disciples were:  fishermen, tax collectors, and people of little consequence in the eyes of the world. Sometimes the ones most people don’t see, or choose to look straight through—the ghosts of society, as it were, dead to the world—end up having the biggest impact. That’s where the title and idea for Ghost Ship came from: all the misfits, the uncool, the outcasts, there is a place where you do fit in. Although Ghost Ship is not a concept album, this is a recurring theme, particularly in the title track and ‘Castaway.’

“Ghost Ship” track listing
01. Paper Tiger

02. Ghost Ship

03. The Wonder Of It All

04. Wishing Well

05. Around the World and Back

06. Stir the Embers

07. A Call To Arms

08. Currency In A Bankrupt World

09. Castaway

10. Easter

The Athens, Georgia-based melodic metal band THEOCRACY will release their new album “Ghost Ship” on October 28th in Europe and North America through Ulterium Records. Information on different So many kids were coming up to us after shows and telling us their stories,” says Theocracy vocalist Matt Smith. “A lot of them were searching for purpose and a place to fit in, and having grown up as an awkward and unpopular kid myself, their words really stuck with me. I started thinking about what a band of misfits Jesus’ disciples were:  fishermen, tax collectors, and people of little consequence in the eyes of the world. Sometimes the ones most people don’t see, or choose to look straight through—the ghosts of society, as it were, dead to the world—end up having the biggest impact. That’s where the title and idea for Ghost Ship came from: all the misfits, the uncool, the outcasts, there is a place where you

-Badger \m/

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Metal Drummer Spotlight: Philippe Tyrant Boucher

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We are now in the month of May, and I wanted to touch base with  a drummer who has been a part of several amazing bands, and  has been heard playing drums on albums like Le dernier crépuscule by Chthe’ilist, and Earthborn Evolution by Beyond Creation. I had a chance to meet Philippe while he was on tour with Beyond Creation on the Infernus tour supporting Hate Eternal, with other bands on the tour being Misery Index, and Rivers of Nihil.

1)     So , Earthborn Evolution came out towards the end of 2014, however 2015 your band Beyond Creation did a great amount of touring. I can say it was very cool to see you guys live for my first time  on Oct 27th for the Infernus tour.  What was it like to be playing that many dates with   fellow drummers Adam Jarvis, Hannes Grossman, and Dylan Potts. For me that was a killer tour in regards to drumming. What was it like for you?

It was amazing, one of the craziest tours I did and honestly, each band and each drummer was very nice with me. I love Adam, Hannes and Dylan’s work, they are absolutely great drummer and they all have a good personality. We had so much funny moments and crazy nights on this tour, I’ll always remember it!

2)    While Beyond Creation made some big waves with Earthborn, Chthe’ilist put out   Le dernier crépuscule which in my opinion was also a killer release.  7 songs of some really dark, brutal tech death metal, is there any chance there will be any touring in support for this  release?

I hope to play more shows with Chthe’ilist because I really like this band. It feels good to play in an old school style of death metal; this genre is one of my favorite. I’m really busy with Beyond Creation so it’s kind of hard to book shows but everything is possible. We plan to do more shows near the end of the year or in the next one.

3)     What about the other bands you are a part of,  is there anything in the works for new material?

Yes of course, there’s a lot of work in progress! When I’m back from tours or shows with Beyond, I work on my other projects, especially Incandescence, it is my main project and accomplishment. I withdraw myself from the surrounding world, I follow my thoughts: I can do whatever I want in this band. I like to put some grooves and a little technicality in it even if it’s black metal music. I play the drums, guitars, bass and my very good friend is doing the vocals. We have a first album that we released back in the end of 2013. We just finished all the recordings for our second one. It might be release at the end of the year, I really look forward for this one to come out!

Décombres is more of a low-profile black metal project. I do the instrumental part as well as the vocals. I didn’t do any live performance yet and it pleases me like that. I released my first album and now I’m currently working on a second one. Stay tuned!

4)     Based on your drumming, you can play some really impressive and  precise technical drumming, what are some of your influences? I have to assume that hailing from the Quebec area that Flo Mounier could be one of them. Who else influenced you and your style?

Yes of course, Flo Mounier is probably the drummer who inspired me the most throughout the years. I am a fan of his intensity and the grooves that he creates. When I began to drums, my real first influence was Mike Portnoy. I appreciated his energy. Although, if I can talk of recent drummers, I would say that Frost (1349, Satyricon) inspired me a lot for extreme drumming. Hannes Grossnan is a great one too, George Kollias, Trey Williams (Dying Fetus), John Dolmayan (System of a down), John Longstreth (Origin), Buddy Rich, Tim Alexander (Primus), Inferno (Behemoth, Azarath), Patrice Hamelin (Martyr, Gorguts) and probably many more, are all inspiration.

5)     From what I can count you are playing the drums in a total of four bands, are there any other projects that you are working on that we might hear about in the near future?

From now, I’m alright with all these bands/projects haha. I recorded the new album of Vengeful, a death metal band from Montreal, it will be out soon. Bands are asking me for sessions and studio collaborations so you might hear from me a little bit more. Maybe someday I would like to start another project, something with a tiny touch of metal, something progressive with a taste of funk like a mix of Primus/Mastodon. Let’s be honest, this is really far from happening because I’m really busy with all the ideas I have for my current bands/projects.

6)     Aside from metal, what other styles of music do you enjoy playing?

I really like to play funk, prog, tribal, blues, rock. When I have time to play alone, I like to create some grooves that couldn’t work inside my bands, I like to push my creativity towards completely other genres.

7)     Any big plans for touring in 2016, or any big festivals that your bands will be playing?

We plan to do more tours for sure! Although, there’s nothing I can confirm yet.

8)     I find that more and more metal drummers are doing skype lessons, or dvds, digital videos. Is this something that you might entertain in the near future?

Yes of course, it’s hard to make it happens with all my projects but it’s certainly something that I want to start. To teach and to transmit my passion to others is something that I want to experience in my life.

 

So there you have it,  Philippe is a really cool guy that plays some mean drums, and with past bands like  First Fragment, and then current bands Beyond Creation, Chthe’ilist, Incandescance, and Décombres. His drumming is sure to impress many who have listened to any of these bands.

some live footage of Philippe

Fundemental process off Beyond Creation’s last album Earthborn Evolution

 

If you like what you hear, check out these links where you can purchase some of his music.

Beyond Creation on Bandcamp

Chthe’ilist on Profound Lore Records

Incandescence on BANDCAMP

 

-Badger \m/

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Inquisition is in the studio and beging to record their 2016 release.

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Inquisition have entered the studio and are recording their follow up album to their 2013 release ” Obscure Verses For The Multiverse” they are recording at the London Bridge Studio in Seattle Washington with Arthur Rizk.

 

To get you ready for their upcoming album, Stream Obscure Verses For The Multiverse

 

 

-Badger \m/
http://www.badgersmetalbreakdown.com

 

 

 

 

Bulgarian black metal band Matubes working on a new release

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MATUBES working on new release Bulgarian black metallers MATUBES are working on a new release. The band released their debut EP “The Return Of Black Metal” in September 2015.

The band comments:
“Walking empty fields… MATUBES embarks on a Journey to what will be known as the next Work to be unleashed to this world. For they, who consider the Messenger more important than the Message, shall meet their Maker sooner. Right after, with the coming Waxing Crescent on Friday the 13th, we shut the Gates to the House of Truth again as only the resounding echoes should be felt…”

LINKS
check out their website
head on over to their Bandcamp page

-Badger \m/
http://www.badgersmetalbreakdown.com